Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-02
Denton.

The Denton fire department was first
organized in December, 1875, immediately
after the old court house on the north
side of the square was burned. Clutch"
Nance was the captain. It's growth was
quick, as was also it's death. No drills
were reformed, no meetings of its men,
bers were held, and it literally died be-
fore it was born.
In May, 1879, Immediately after one OF
Denton's then numerous fires, meeting
of the young men, in the second story of
the Miner blacksmith shop on North Lo-
Gust street, resulted in the reorganization
of the company Such men as II. H.
Dawson, A. w. Massey, R. G. Scripture,
Wat Lacy and Others went into il with a
vim, and the result was the Denton FIRE
department was started out in a healthy
condition, and on the road 10 long life
OF usefulness. -..-
At a subsequent meeting Mr.. w. J.
Austin was elected member and tender
ed the office OF chief of the department.
He accepted, and has continued it's chief
up to this time, with the exception of
about three months, when Mr.. Wat Lacy
was chief.
Mr.. Austin, there is no use denying,
has always been, and is to-day, the life of
the company. He has lent great deal
of his time to perfecting the department
in various ways, and much credit is due
him. The city government, however, has
also been liberal to the department, as
we'll as have many of the prominent
business men, as individuals, who are
also entitled to their share of praise.
The result is, to-day the Denton fire
department occupies it's own house and
has complete apparatus of the most i'm
proved kinds for the eXtinguishment of
fires. The company has about $4,000
worth of apparatus, including fine La
France engine, one of the most elegant
In the state; two hose carriages, one
Miller truck, etc. Their two engine
horses, Nip and Tuck, are well educated.
and are considered very fine animals.
The hook and ladder horse, George, is
also trained to consid rable extent.
The present officers of the fire depart
ment are:
W. j. Austin, chief.
Bishop Nicely, first assistant chief.
j. B. Schmitz, second assistant chief.
Albert Daily, secretary.
II. II. Dawson, treasurer.
DR.. j. R. Edwards, surgeon.
George W. Simpson, engineer.
John Hockett, driver of the engine.
W. S. Cash, driver of the hook and
ladder truck.
The strictest discipline prevails, and
two daily drills occur. At 10 a. m. in
spectiOn and gong drill take place, and at
4 O'Clock the horses are exercised, hitched
to the apparatus. The bell taps at 10 a.
m, y m. and p. m. The engineer and
drivers sleep in the engine house, and are
literally always on deck. They are the
only paid members of the department.
A representative of the Chronicle Wis
tied the engine house one day this week,
and was most agreeabIy surprised at
what he saw. Everything was in "apple-
pie" order, and ready for an
alarm at any moment. All Of
the latest little tricks necessary
in well-ordered fire department were
fourd there, and new improvements are
being added. For instance,
the Chief is now preparing On arrange
ment whereby, at given signal, the har-
ness may be dropped on to the horses.
The Chronicle representative was high
ly pleased with everything he saW, and
came away thoroughly inspired with the
idea that the Denton Fire Department
was fully abreast of the times, and
little ahead if anything - Denton Chron-
iCle